Manchester Unted Transfer News and Rumours Monday 29 April

Dortmund Put Deadline On Lewandowski Bids

Borussia Dortmund have agreed they will talk to striker and Manchester United target Robert Lewandowski about a possible transfer should they receive any ‘suitable’ offers by 15 May, but the German club insist that a move isn’t a foregone conclusion.

The Poland international has been linked with interest from United as well as recently-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich but Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke says they have yet to receive any formal offer for their player.

Reports in Germany last week claimed the 24-year-old Lewandowski was the subject of a 25million euro (£21million) bid from Bayern but Watzke says that isn’t the case. The Dortmund supremo added that although there was an insistence on a 15 May deadline “That does not mean that Robert will definitely move.”

Dortmund are desperate to hang on to their star striker whose four-goal salvo against Real Madrid last weekend has put the German side on the verge of a first Champions League Final since they won the title in 1997.

The news last week that Bayern Munich had agreed to pay the 37million euro release fee in the contract of Mario Gotze has only served to entrench Dortmund’s position as they seek to prevent the departure of another key player to their rivals. However, Lewandowski’s contract has no such clause.

“It is our explicit wish that Robert is playing for us next season and we also do this without a release fee,” said Watzke and he added:

“Mario Gotze had an exit clause. Robert Lewandowski could also imagine that he wants to move. But that’s the key difference – no exit clause.”

Speculation has linked Manchester United with a move for Lewandowski with one UK press report late last week suggesting that Sir Alex Ferguson might bid £28million and pay the striker £200,000 a week. There have also been suggestions that the move would see Lewandowski partner Robin van Persie as the club’s main strike partnership.

United were linked with Lewandowski last summer but Sir Alex Ferguson instead signed Robin van Persie from Arsenal.

Scholes Set To Stay

Meanwhile, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists Paul Scholes although he doesn’t know in what capacity.

Scholes signed an 18-month contract with the club in January 2012 after being coaxed out of retirement and although the deal expires this summer Sir Alex said a coaching role at the club hasn’t been ruled out. He didn’t feature in United’s Premier League-winning win over Aston Villa last Monday although Sir Alex put that down to injury.

“He’s got an injury that is bothering him a lot. I don’t think he came onto the pitch [at the end of the Villa match] but he’s not that type. He was probably home by the time the game ended!

“It doesn’t matter as he’ll be here anyway – whether as a player or coach. He’ll be here anyway.”